Display device



Jan. 13, 1942. s. 5 SCHM|DT 2,270,084

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Nov. l, 1938 Patented Jan. 13, 1942 UNITED STATES ,PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY DEVICE Samuel S. Schmidt, York, Pa., assigner to Grey Iron Casting Company, Mount Joy, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 1, 193s, serial No. 238,143

2 claims.' (amos-so) The present invention relates generally to improvements lin display devices of the article retaining and supporting type wherein a plurality of articles are maintained in orderly spaced arrangement.

The invention is directed more particularly to an improved construction for maintaining such articles as toy soldiers or other miniature figures rmly in upright position where they may be viewed from all sides and in the positions in which they Will normally be used.

Formerly such articles have been laid flat on a piece of cardboard and sewn or stitched thereto. More time was required to assemble the articles in this manner, and, in addition, the articles could not be as readily removed, inspected and then replaced on the display card. The display stand minimizes the danger of loss of individual pieces and greatly increases the sales appeal due chiefly to the orderly, upright positions of the articles.

The present invention aims to provide a simple, inexpensive means for securely retaining articles such as toy soldiers or the like firmly in erect or upright position so that they maybe viewed from all sides. The invention also aims to facilitate assembly of the articles with the display card and to minimize the cost of the materials used and of the complete display card. In addition, the invention contemplates the provision of improved means for positively securing articles to a display card against accidental movement in any direction.

, An object ofthe present invention is to provide an inexpensive and more practical display device.

Another object of the present invention isto provide a simple display device for effectively holding toy soldiers and the like in upright posi-` tion.

Another object of the present inventionis to provide a display device with which'toy soldiers and the like may be more rapidly assembled and disassembled.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a display device having sturdy portions for retaining miniature gures in upright position and ilexible portions for facilitating the mounting of the gures on the display devices.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to beneath 'the top sheet.

one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention'has been chosen for purposes of illustration and dey scription and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged exploded fragmentary view of one corner of the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1 illustrating the mounting operation.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a. sectional view 5-5 of Fig.l 1; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-'6 of Fig. 1.

Referring again to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, there is shown, in general, a display device or mounting card, made of cardboard or some other suitable material, comprising a top sheet I having movable tongues 2 and3 cooperating with the top sheet to form retaining apertures 4 for miniature ilgures 5 and l. A bottom sheet 8 secured to the underside of the top sheet I holdsthe miniature figures in upright position. While the present device is particularly adapted for, and will be described mainlywith reference to, miniature figures such as toy soldiers, it should be understood that it may be utilized :for other objects possessing similar constructional parts.

To permit insertion of the b ase I0 of a twolegged toy 5 beneath the top sheet I and Within suitable spaced retaining apertures 4 therein, the top sheet is provided with an integral movable tongue 2. The tongue is formed by cutting or severing the top sheet adjacent the spaced leg apertures 4 to form an end slit II approximately equal in length to the base I0 of the two-legged soldier and further severing the top sheet at each end of and at about right angles to the end slit I I to form a pair of side slits I3. A single end slit and a pair of side slits thus cooperate to form a portion or tongue 2 which is integral with the top sheet at one end thereof, and which may be moved or flexed upwardly or downwardly about its unsevered end to permit placing the legs of the toy soldier` 5 within the spaced apertures of the top sheet and the base I0 of the toy Indisplay position the taken along the line enlarged base I of the two-legged toy lies beneath the plane of the top sheet I and the legs thereof project up through the spaced retaining apertures 4 of the sheet to expose the toy to full view.

A two-legged miniature figure may be inserted within the spaced apertures by placing it on the tongue 2 so that its base II) lies between the side slits I3 and pressing downwardly and forwardly upon the figure with respect to the top sheet I to guide it toward the spaced retaining apertures 4. The tongue 2 bends or exes downwardly and permits the base Il) to be moved into a position beneath the top sheet I, and also beneath a tab I4 which is integral with the top sheet I and projects outwardly between the spaced retaining apertures 4. As the figure is moved into the spaced retaining apertures, the tongue 2 will be released and either automatically spring back or may be moved back to its normal position by an upward pull upon the ligure, the base I0 in the latter event assisting to lift the tongue.

With the miniature figure held by the top sheet as shown in Figs. 1-4, any possibility of upward or lateral movement is minimized. Lateral movement is prevented by the sides of the retaining apertures 4 which contain the figure. Upward movement is` prevented by the portions of the tongue 2 adjacent the end thereof which extend over the base III of the figure and by the unsevered or solid portions of the top sheet which also extend over parts of the base I0. By having as much as possible of the base under solid or unsevered portions of the top sheet, any possibility of upward movement of a miniature figure will be minimized. Preferably, therefore, thev integral unsevered tab I4 is made to extend between the spaced retaining apertures 4 and the spaced legs of the figure 5. The other integral unsevered edges of the top sheet I also extend over portions of the base II] of the miniature figure.

If the two-legged miniature figure 5 is inadvertently or purposely placed in the spaced retaining apertures 4 so as to face to the right instead of to the left, as shown in Figs. l-4, it will still be held against upward movement by the unsevered portions which will extend over the base in a manner similar to that when the figure faces to the left. In such an event, the forward or front part of the base II'I will be held beneath a severed part or tab I6 of the tongue 2 instead of by a solid or unsevered part of the top sheet, In either position, the figure will be held against upward movement by an integral unsevered part of the top sheet I.

To assist in holding a toy ligure upright within the top sheet and to prevent it fromslipping downwardly within the retaining apertures, an imperforate sheet 8 of cardboard or other suitable material is preferably secured to the underside of the top sheet I. The bottom sheet 8 supports the base Ill of a toy firmly in position against the underside of the top sheet. The bottom sheet may be attached by means of staples, adhesive or other appropriate means, but stapling has been found to provide a rugged construction and to facilitate assembly operations.

In assembling a display, the toy soldiers are preferably rst inserted within the apertures 4 of the top sheet I and then the bottom sheet 8 is stapled thereto at convenient points.

In Figs, 5 and 6, and also at the right side of the device illustrated in Fig. 1, there is shown a construction for retaining a toy soldier 'l having a single or unitary supporting leg. In this construction a single retaining aperture 4 may be utilized to retain the toy in position instead of a pair of spaced retaining apertures. An end slit or severed portion I1 located adjacent the single retaining aperture is utilized, together with a pair of side slits I9, to provide a tongue 3 having a tab I 8 adjacent the free end thereof in a manner similar to that described in connection with the apertures and tongue for retaining the two-legged soldier in position. A single legged toy 'I may be inserted within the single aperture by placing it upon the tongue 3 and moving it downwardly and forwardly into the aperture similarly to the twolegged soldier.

Since a toy with a single supporting leg is usually mounted symmetrically upon its base, there will be the same amount of base projecting beneath the integral unsevered portion of the top sheet regardless of whether the toy is inserted so as to face to the front of the device as shown, or in an opposite direction.

It will be understood that the apertures for retaining either type of toy soldier may be placed so as to lie within an integral unsevered portion of the top sheet, as shown at the left in Fig. l, or so as to lie within one of the severed tongue portions, as shown at the right in Fig. 1. l

Also, while -the device has been described particularly with reference to toys having a single or double supporting legs, it will be apparent that it may be utilized for displaying of toys having four legs, such as a miniature horse.

The top sheet I, together with the retaining apertures and slits, may all be accurately cut out in a single stamping or die-cutting operation, thus 'keeping the cost at a minimum.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a display device for miniature figures in which the figures are prevented from moving upwardly by unsevered integral portions of a top sheet and from moving downwardly by an imperforate bottom sheet. Miniature gures may be rapidly and easily assembled with the display device since the device comprises a minimum number of parts preferably stamped from inexpensive material such as cardboard, breboard or the like. The parts of the device may be quickly and effectively joined together. A minimum number of parts is required and ease and rapidity of manufacturing and assembling are attained. The device is rugged in construction, and well able to withstand any rough usage to which it may be subjected.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without `departing from the 4spirit and scope of the invention and Without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as' illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a display device of the class described. the combination of la sheet of material having an integral tongue formed in the body thereof by two substantially parallelslits having one of their corresponding ends joined by another slit, said slits producing edges on the tongue and on ,the more rigid part of the sheet adjacent said tongue, one of said edges immediately adjacent theend of said tongue on the rigid part of the sheet of material having cut away portions forming a pair of recesses therein separated by a tab portion extending toward said tongue and adapted to accommo'date the supporting portions of a miniature figure with a part of the base of said gure extending beneath the rigid uncut sheet of material and the tab portion thereon, and a second sheet of material attached to and extending beneath and in face contact with the underside of said rst sheet adjacent said recess and tab portion for retaining the base portion of a miniature figure between it and sai-d rst sheet.

2.' In a display device of the class described the combination of a sheet of material having an integral tongue formed in the body thereof by two substantially parallel slits having one of their edges joined by another slit, said latter joining slit being stepped intermediate the ends thereof and :forming two spaced substantially parallel steps at the end of the tongue, said slits producing edges on the tongue and on the more rigid part of the sheet adjacent said tongue, said tongue being normally maintained substantially in the plane of said sheet of material by the unslit end of said tongue Vso as to maintain the edges of the tongue and the corresponding edges of the sheet in substantially abutting relationship at all times, the edge of the sheet immediately adjacent the stepped edge of the tongue having a cut away portion at one end thereof forming an aperture adapted to accommodate the upright supporting leg portions of a miniature gure, with an entire base portion of said'gure positioned beneath the plane of said sheet of material and with a part of the base of said figure extending outwardly beyond one of the side edges of said tongue and beneath the rigid uncut sheet of material and part extending beneath said tongue portion, and a second sheet of material secured to and extending beneath and in-face contact with the underside of said rst sheet adjacent said aperture, said securing means being spaced from said aperture to enable said base portion to be wedged in position between said sheets to hold said figure in upright position with respect to said sheets.

SAMUEL S. SCHMIDT. 

